China Acrobatic Troupe Launches Residency, Acrobatics Market Ushers in Golden Era
This May, Beijing's Chaoyang Theater welcomes a major production – "Peak of Mastery." This performance, specially created by China Acrobatic Troupe under Beijing Performance & Arts Group for Chaoyang Theater, marks the official launch of the troupe's residency model.
Residency Begins with the Best
As the first national-level acrobatic arts troupe established after the founding of New China, China Acrobatic Troupe carries the evolutionary history of Eastern acrobatic aesthetics. From its first gold medal in 1957, to its first "Golden Clown" award in 2004, and then to its 75th gold medal and fourth "Golden Clown" in 2025, these accolades represent the glorious journey of Chinese acrobatic art.
"The 'Peak of Mastery' performance we specially created for Chaoyang Theater brings together the essence of 75 years of artistic refinement by China Acrobatic Troupe," said Lyu Limin, Party Secretary and Chairman of China Acrobatic Troupe.
At the scene, the reporter witnessed a thrilling, beautiful, and entertaining performance from start to finish, drawing continuous applause from the audience. "Stormy Seas – Pole Acrobatics" reenacts the interplay of strength and grace in battling ocean waves. "Concerto – Black and White Rhapsody – Collective Acrobatics" presents ever-changing human formations set to piano melody. "Drum Rhyme – Foot Juggling on Drums" blends traditional foot juggling with drum music. "Sacred Fight – Hoop Diving" breaks physical limits with soaring leaps. "Reaching for the Dream – High Cane" challenges the breathtaking aesthetics of high-altitude stacking. "Mystery – Multi-Dimensional Collective Ball Juggling" constructs dynamic geometry through precise coordination. "Pretty Girls – Collective Diabolo" uses nimbly flipping diabolos to interpret Peking Opera rhythm. "Riding the Wind – Male Collective Bicycle Acrobatics" paints the speed of wind with rapidly racing wheels, providing a stunning finale to the entire performance.
"This is my first time watching an acrobatic performance live in a theater, and it was absolutely breathtaking. I used to think acrobatics was all about difficulty and danger, but through this performance by China Acrobatic Troupe, I also experienced the beauty of acrobatic art. I especially loved 'Pretty Girls – Collective Diabolo,'" said audience member Ms. Liang.
Li Liping, a performer with China Acrobatic Troupe, explained that "Pretty Girls – Collective Diabolo" has been performed for over 20 years since its creation, with innovations built upon the foundation each year. For example, in terms of technique, diabolo juggling and jump rope skills have been continuously upgraded. In stage design, spatial arrangements and costumes have been enhanced. In performance, the artistic cultivation of the performers has been strengthened, blending acrobatics with traditional Chinese opera performance.
Another audience member said, "The performance exceeded my imagination. It was wonderful. I will definitely bring my children to watch acrobatic performances in the future, so they can also experience this different art form."
Creating Excellence, Reaching the Public
Worldwide, resident theater performances are nothing new – Broadway in New York, Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, the West End in London, the Takarazuka Revue in Japan. "These examples show that to build a first-rate performing arts brand, you need a dedicated venue. Acrobatics is no different," Lyu Limin told Jiefang Daily's Shangguan News.
China Acrobatic Troupe's long-term residency at Chaoyang Theater will precisely align with the "Great Theater in Beijing" and "Capital of Performing Arts" initiatives. At this established acrobatic performance venue, the troupe will present high-quality acrobatic and circus productions, exploring an integrated development path combining "art + technology + commerce," and promoting the transformation and upgrading from product-based operation to platform-based operation.
Lyu Limin introduced that the troupe's residency performances will focus on two aspects in the future. "First is 'premium' – which is what we are doing at Chaoyang Theater. That is, on the core platform of Beijing's central tourism district, we aim to create first-class performance products, set the industry benchmark, and allow Chinese and international tourists visiting Beijing to experience the unique charm of traditional Chinese acrobatic art. Second is 'community-level' – which involves immersive, neighborhood-style family performances in open new spaces such as community theaters, cultivating a broader new audience for the art of acrobatics."
Bringing Overseas Audiences to Beijing
Building the brand also means not giving up on overseas markets. "We perform about 300 shows overseas every year. I hope that through acrobatics – a universal language – overseas audiences can see China, and in the future, walk into our theaters in China to experience more Chinese performance brands," said Lyu Limin.
To build a brand, content remains key beyond just venue support. Creating excellent acrobatic programs requires day-by-day refinement – no "fast food" approach. "Launching the residency also raises the bar for our performance creation and talent development," Lyu Limin stated. China Acrobatic Troupe will use the residency as an opportunity to further enhance its comprehensive capabilities in creation, technology application, platform operations, and performer training.
Perhaps in the near future, we will also see beloved acrobatic stars emerge in China's performance market.
